A novel route to nanostructured bismuth telluride films by electrodeposition

Abstract

Abstract:We report a novel route to the fabrication of 3D nanostructured stoichiometric bismuth telluride (Bi 2 Te 3 ) films by electrodeposition through inverse lipid cubic phases as evidenced by Small-angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Helium Ion Microscopy (HIM). The nanostructured Bi 2 Te 3 films were composed of interconnected nanowires with diameters of 60-150Å.

Three-Dimensional Nanostructured Palladium with Single Diamond Architecture for Enhanced Catalytic Activity

“…To identify the presence of a nanostructure of the phytantriol template and the resulting Pd electrodeposits SAXS studies were performed which are shown in Figure 1. 47 This is consistent with previous observations for Pt, 53 Bi2Te3, 49 and Bi2S3. 48 The derived lattice parameter of the structure is calculated to be 71.0 (± 0.5) Å.…”

“…For SAXS studies, a Au DVD working electrode was used, and for SEM, EDX, and XRD, Au on Si wafer was used, both as detailed previously. 48,49 A deposition potential of +0.1 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE) was used for all Pd deposition and unless otherwise stated, deposition was halted once 14.4 mC of charge was passed. For catalytic comparison, 38.45 mg of Pd black was applied onto a 3 mm polished carbon disk electrode by pipetting on 5 μL of an ink consisting of 80 mg of Pd black (Alfa Aesar, 99.9%), 40 μL of Nafion 117 solution (Aldrich), and 1000 μL of deionized water and leaving in an oven at 100 °C for at least 15 min.…”

Thermoelectric Properties of Bismuth Telluride Thin Films Electrodeposited from a Nonaqueous Solution

“…In comparison to other methods for thin film fabrication, electrodeposition of such films has advantages of being relatively cost-effective as it does not require high vacuum or elevated temperatures, offers easier control over thickness and composition, and can be used for the deposition of films with thicknesses ranging from nanometers to hundreds of micrometers over a large area. Electrodeposition is also particularly well suited to the deposition on complex geometries. − Electrodeposition of Bi 2 Te 3 thin films has mainly been investigated in aqueous acidic solutions, such as nitric, sulfuric, or hydrochloric acid. − Several electrochemical methods have been employed for electrodeposition of Bi 2 Te 3 thin films, including potentiostatic electrodeposition, − , galvanostatic electrodeposition, , and pulsed electrodeposition. − Nonaqueous electrolytes have a wider electrochemical window than water, allowing the investigation of more negative overpotentials, and Bi 2 Te 3 thin films have also been successfully electrodeposited from these without the concomitant reduction of the solvent. Organic solvents also provide improved solubility of Bi­(III) and Te­(IV) salts, which are only moderately soluble in aqueous acidic media limiting the deposition rate.…”

Controlling the Epitaxial Growth of Bi2Te3, BiTe, and Bi4Te3 Pure Phases by Physical Vapor Transport

“…Bi 2 Te 3 has been studied for decades as one of the most important thermoelectric materials, , and recently, its properties as a topological insulator (TI) have been experimentally demonstrated. , However, other Bi–Te phases that have received much less attention do exist. − In fact, there are at least seven different crystal structures in the Bi–Te system. They have a layered structure (with the exception of Bi 4 Te 3 ) and present a rhombohedral or trigonal symmetry that is most frequently represented using hexagonal lattices with very similar a values (∼0.44 nm) and with c varying between 1 and 15 nm. , …”

“…Bi 2 Te 3 has been studied for decades as one of the most important thermoelectric materials, 1,2 and recently, its properties as a topological insulator (TI) have been experimentally demonstrated. 3,4 However, other Bi−Te phases that have received much less attention do exist.…”